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Epiphone EB0 neck problem

A

abpeep

Jan 29, 2011
4
0
Buda, TX
#1
My grandson has an EB0 and the fretboard is separating from the neck just below the nut. He was told that the repair would be more than the bass is worth and had his purchase amount refunded under the warranty. So now he still has the guitar and I was wondering if I, with limited woodworking skills, could help him fix it.

I will probably begin to look for a neck or a project bass on ebay as that could be pretty cheap but would like to try to fix it in the meantime. There is a visible crack between the fretboard and the neck on both sides, and the paint has chipped away, just below the nut. I can insert a feeler gauge, .006, into the crack.

attachment.jpg


I guess that I could remove the fretboard altogether using a heat gun to soften the glue but could this be done without hurting the paint? I could also just try to try to get some glue into the crack and then clamp it - see how long that lasts.

Any advice would be considered......:help:

Thanks,
Alan
 

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#2
It is absolutely correct that the cost of a repair would be more than the bass is worth. With my limited experience I would say that removing the fretboard and re-gluing it would be the most permanent solution but this will mean some re-finishing work to the neck if you want it to look new-ish again. Worth a shot if you've got the tools and know-how. If you've got a refund on the bass anyway then it could be a nice little project with nothing to lose.
 
#3
abpeep said:
My grandson has an EB0 and the fretboard is separating from the neck just below the nut. He was told that the repair would be more than the bass is worth and had his purchase amount refunded under the warranty. So now he still has the guitar and I was wondering if I, with limited woodworking skills, could help him fix it.

I will probably begin to look for a neck or a project bass on ebay as that could be pretty cheap but would like to try to fix it in the meantime. There is a visible crack between the fretboard and the neck on both sides, and the paint has chipped away, just below the nut. I can insert a feeler gauge, .006, into the crack.

attachment.jpg


I guess that I could remove the fretboard altogether using a heat gun to soften the glue but could this be done without hurting the paint? I could also just try to try to get some glue into the crack and then clamp it - see how long that lasts.

Any advice would be considered......:help:

Thanks,
Alan
Click to expand...

Clamp and saturate with water thin superglue, the good stuff that you'll have to get at a hobby shop, woodworking store, etc.
 
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#6
If he got his purchase price refunded under warranty why isnt he replaceing the bass? Fretboard removal etc should be left to pros. Buy replacement bass. Salvage any parts he wants from the broken one and trashcan the remains. As best route imo since he got a refund.
 
#7
The same thing happened with my EB-O. I removed the strings, further tightened the truss rod 1/2 turn to open the fb to neck gap, bled a little superglue into the gap, relieved truss rod tension completely and clamped the joint. A couple of hours later I reinstalled the strings and did a setup. The bass is fine. A quick inexpensive repair on an inexpensive bass.
 
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#9
darkstorm said:
If he got his purchase price refunded under warranty why isnt he replaceing the bass? Fretboard removal etc should be left to pros. Buy replacement bass. Salvage any parts he wants from the broken one and trashcan the remains. As best route imo since he got a refund.
Click to expand...

He has replaced the bass. Looks like a pretty easy fix though to have a free backup.........or a project.
 
#12
I did a Google search for EB-0 neck & found this thread. I mentioned in my introduction that I sold my EB-0 recently. I never noticed the cracks on either side of the neck (must have occurred during my move and I didn't touch that bass once the move was done...no time), but the buyer did. I felt awful because in the ad I stated there was nothing wrong with it. He bought it anyway (at a lower price) and said he would try to fix it himself. A month later he contacted me & asked if I would consider buying it back from him at the same price he paid, since he was hurting a bit for money and didn't feel he was capable of fixing it. I agreed since I still felt so guilty about saying there was nothing wrong with the bass in the ad.

So then I started wondering how I could fix it, or if I would have to replace the neck? It appears I have my answer now. Thanks folks!
 
#14
Pug the Pig said:
^...you forgot one of the most important Ferengi rules of acquisition....'never give their money back..'.:laugh:
Click to expand...

If there was nothing wrong with the bass, as I had advertised, I wouldn't have done it. So even though he bought it for a slightly lower price knowing that it was broken, I still felt guilty.

Honestly though, since I've been taking lessons for a few months now this 30-inch scale feels more comfortable to me than the 34-inch scale on my current bass. If I can fix it I just may continue my lessons on the Epiphone and keep the 34-inch scale around to play with as my skills improve.
 

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